Turning Interest into Action: ‘We See the Teacher in You’ Enters Phase 2

By Ines Bellina

April 28, 2026

Prospective teacher candidates at a GYO-IL recruitment event in 2025. Hosted by partner Truman College. Additional partner schools, National Louis University, Chicago State University, University of Illinois-Chicago, and Illinois State University participated.

Grow Your Own Teachers Illinois (GYO-IL) began its ‘We See the Teacher in You’ recruitment and outreach campaign in early 2025 with Phase 1: Launching the Invitation, an initiative to expand awareness of the many pathways into teaching and encourage prospective candidates to complete GYO-IL’s referral form. Through TV, radio, public transit, and social media advertisements—plus outreach from more than 50 community-based and higher-education partners—Phase 1 reached paraprofessionals, career changers, current college students, and other prospective candidates across Illinois. Candidates who submitted a referral form were automatically connected with designated points of contact at GYO-IL partner colleges and universities.

Building on that success, GYO-IL is now activating Phase 2: Engagement and Cultivation. This next phase shifts the focus from raising awareness to helping prospective students take the next step toward becoming licensed teachers.  

Prospective teacher candidate chatting with a representative from Truman College at a GYO-IL recruitment event hosted by NEIU El Central Campus.

“We went into this campaign not knowing how many interested people we would get. Nearly 1,600 people completed our referral form," said Herman Reeves, Director of Teacher Marketing Recruitment. “There's this idea that folks of color are not interested in teaching and this campaign is showing that that's not true. If you give them a direct invitation, there is the desire to know more. In Phase 2, the main opportunities we want to capitalize on are engagement and cultivation.”

While the enthusiastic response to the campaign increased the number of interested individuals, GYO-IL’s goal is to turn that interest into teacher education program applications—starting by overcoming barriers that prevent aspiring teachers from pursuing licensure. Many individuals are unsure of what requirements they need to fulfill or if their previous academic or professional experience will count toward licensure. They are often juggling work and family responsibilities, and the prospect of adding coursework to their plates can be overwhelming. Unsurprisingly, financial considerations weigh heavily as well.  

To help interested candidates maintain momentum after completing the referral form, GYO-IL hired Ricardo Barrera as Recruitment Liaison. Barrera adds a human touch to the campaign, reaching out to prospective candidates individually to understand their goals, answer early questions, and help them see a possible path into teaching. He walks candidates through their educational options; connects them with advisors at partner colleges and universities that are prepared to support campaign referrals; and shares information about scholarships, grants, and other support that may help make teacher licensure more attainable. For some candidates, the conversation also includes exploring whether becoming a paraprofessional first could help them gain classroom experience and determine whether teaching is the right long-term path.

“Many attendees shared that they had thought about teaching for a long time but needed help understanding the next steps. The campaign helped create a welcoming space where people could see that becoming a teacher is possible and that GYO-IL and our partners are here to support them through the process.”

“My task is to change the leads from an interested position to an action position,” explains Barrera. “I think this cultivation strategy is really helping us connect with people who are ready,” he continues. “Cultivation is about moving people a step forward.”

As campaign referrals climbed to nearly 2,500, GYO-IL also needed an efficient way to stay connected with prospective teachers throughout the decision-making process. GYO-IL created and deployed an email and text automation system to keep prospective candidates engaged; answer common questions about affordability, feasibility, and work-life balance; and guide them toward next-step resources and opportunities. Together with Ricardo Barrera’s individualized outreach, the automation system helps ensure candidates receive both timely information and human support as they explore becoming a teacher in Illinois. 

Phase 2: Engagement and Cultivation also brought together 15 of 22 higher education partners for five in-person collaborative recruitment events across Illinois. These events were hosted at Truman Community College, Northeastern Illinois University-El Centro Campus, John A. Logan Community College, Illinois State University, and Northern Illinois University. The remaining participating institutions were National Louis University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Oakton Community College, Elgin Community College, Rock Valley Community College, Waubonsee Community College, Western Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Danville Community College, Richland Community College, and Eastern Illinois University. Seventy prospective students attended these events to chat about licensure pathways, program options, admissions steps, and financial support. “The overall vibe was very positive,” says Barrera. “Many attendees shared that they had thought about teaching for a long time but needed help understanding the next steps. The campaign helped create a welcoming space where people could see that becoming a teacher is possible and that GYO-IL and our partners are here to support them through the process.”

A Northeastern Illinois University representative discusses GYO-IL teacher education programs with a prospective teacher candidate at a GYO-IL recruitment event.

Additionally, GYO-IL is now creating recruitment videos with its higher education partners, starting with Truman College, Western Illinois University, and Northeastern Illinois University, to help them build their capacity to engage underrepresented prospective students. Empowering institutional partners to reach underserved communities in a way that speaks directly to their needs and experience is a point of pride for GYO-IL and a focus of the campaign. “Part of the success of Phase 1 was giving partners a toolkit that they could use in communities to recruit,” said Reeves. “We want to expand this toolkit. These institutional recruitment videos do that. We hope to do so with each partner.”

Phase 2 marks the campaign’s shift from generating interest to helping aspiring educators take meaningful action. Through improved email and text automation, informative digital content, individualized outreach and follow up, and welcoming in-person events, GYO-IL is helping prospective candidates understand their options, stay connected, and take meaningful steps toward becoming teachers in Illinois. “Generating leads is great,” says Barrera, “but we also have to move those leads along so they can generate into applications, which generate into teachers, which generate into more representation within our communities.”

Prospective teacher candidates at John A. Logan sharing lunch at a GYO-IL recruitment event.